When we talk about the details that make a bespoke kitchen feel finished, cabinet hardware is always near the top of the list. Handles are the parts of a kitchen you touch every single day, dozens of times a day, and the right choice can change the character of an entire room. That’s why we so often describe them as the jewellery of the kitchen.
The Rotunda collection from Armac Martin is inspired by the elegance of Art Deco design and made from solid brass; it’s a range that brings real personality to cabinets, and one we’ve recently used to beautiful effect in our own Preston project. Here’s why we love it, and how to make it work in your kitchen.
Who is Armac Martin?
Armac Martin is a British maker of luxury cabinet hardware with a long heritage in brass craftsmanship. Their pieces are found in some of the most considered kitchens in the country, and they’re known for combining traditional manufacturing skills with a modern eye for design. Every handle and knob is made to be used, admired and enjoyed for years, which is why we’re so happy to specify them on the bespoke, handmade kitchens we design here at Planet Furniture.
What Makes Rotunda Special
The Rotunda collection takes its cue from the Art Deco era, a style known for its confidence, its geometry and its love of beautiful materials. The design draws on that heritage with soft, rounded forms and a sense of considered proportion, giving each piece a quietly glamorous quality without ever feeling over the top.
That makes Rotunda a natural fit for Deco-inspired kitchens, where the hardware extends the look of the room right down to the smallest detail. But it’s far more versatile than that. Its rounded profile softens the crisp lines of a Shaker or In-Frame kitchen, adds warmth to a contemporary scheme, and brings a touch of character to more traditional designs.
Every piece in the Rotunda range is crafted from solid brass, and you can feel the difference the moment you open a drawer. Solid brass has a satisfying weight in the hand and the durability to withstand years of daily use. The vast range of finishes means the collection can be tuned to almost any colour scheme.
The collection includes a selection of knobs and pulls, allowing you to dress doors and drawers in a single, cohesive design language.
Rotunda Cabinet Knob
Rotunda Cabinet Handle
Rotunda Appliance Pull
Rotunda in Practice: Our Preston Project
At our Preston project, a new-build barn in the Hertfordshire countryside, we used handles from the Armac Martin Rotunda range in dark bronze. Against the deep, characterful paint colour, the dark bronze Rotunda handles add warmth and quiet richness. Their rounded form softens the precise lines of the In-Frame cabinetry, while the deep finish ties in with the gunmetal Quooker tap at the island. This small decision on paper is one of the details that makes the kitchen feel complete.
How to Choose the Right Rotunda Finish for Your Kitchen
- Match the mood of your room with warmer finishes for cosy, characterful kitchens and dark finishes for drama and depth. Think about whether you want the hardware to stand out as a feature or sit quietly against the cabinetry.
- Consider your cabinet colour: deep colours such as green, blues and earthy neutrals pair beautifully with warm metallics, and pale cabinetry can look striking with a dark finish for contrast.
- Coordinate with your taps and appliances. Every metal in your kitchen doesn’t need to match but should feel related.
- Think about the long-term look, as some finishes develop a natural patina.
- See the finishes in person. Feeling the weight of a handle and seeing the finish in natural light, next to your chosen door and worktop, makes the decision far easier.
Related blogs:
Discover the Tranquil Oasis of the Highbury Collection by Armac Martin
Armac Martin’s Guide on Caring for Your Brass Finishes
Discover Armac Martin’s Latest Collection – Oldbury, Solid Bronze Hardware
Discover Armac Martin Gaumont Collection – An Iconic Choice for Every Home
Dress Your Modern Interiors with The Loop Collection by Armac Martin
Create a Truly Personalised Look With The MIX Collection by Armac Martin
At Planet Furniture, the hardware is never an afterthought. Every bespoke kitchen we design and hand-make in our Hitchin workshop is finished with hardware chosen to suit the cabinetry, colours and the way you live, and Armac Martin’s Rotunda collection is one we return to again and again for its craftsmanship and character.
If you would like to talk through the right handles and finishes for your new kitchen, we’d love to help. Visit our showroom or get in touch to start the conversation.
